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alias

[ey-lee-uh s]
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noun, plural a·li·as·es.
  1. a false name used to conceal one's identity; an assumed name: The police files indicate that “Smith” is an alias for Simpson.
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adverb
  1. at another time; in another place; in other circumstances; otherwise. “Simpson alias Smith” means that Simpson in other circumstances has called himself Smith.
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Origin of alias

1525–35; < Latin aliās (adv.): at another time, otherwise; cf. else

Synonyms

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1. nom de guerre; nom de plume, pseudonym.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for aliases

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • From under a succession of aliases he uncovered Gorman's real name.

    From Place to Place

    Irvin S. Cobb

  • "With half a dozen aliases at your back, I dare say," cried Coates.

    Rookwood

    William Harrison Ainsworth

  • Which will you have, caballero—my nom de guerre, or any other of my aliases?

    The Tiger-Slayer

    Gustave Aimard

  • All manner of rogues and roguery has immemorially delighted in aliases.

    Dealings With The Dead

    A Sexton of the Old School

  • What her connection is with this gentleman of aliases I cannot guess.

British Dictionary definitions for aliases

alias

adverb
  1. at another time or place known as or namedDylan, alias Zimmerman
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noun plural -ases
  1. an assumed name
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Word Origin

C16: from Latin aliās (adv) otherwise, at another time, from alius other
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for aliases

alias

n.

"assumed name," c.1600, from alias (adv.).

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alias

adv.

mid-15c., "otherwise called," from Latin alias "at another time, in another way," from alius "(an)other," from PIE *al- "beyond" (cf. Sanskrit anya "other, different," Avestan anya-, Armenian ail, Greek allos "another," Gothic aljis "other," Old English elles "otherwise, else," Modern English else).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper